SNOHOMISH – All season, the Snohomish High School baseball team has pounded opponents with a powerful, balanced offense.
Despite having just two seniors on its roster, Snohomish smashes the ball like a group of battle-tested veterans. The Panthers had scored 10 or more runs in a game seven times entering their showdown against Lake Stevens on Wednesday.
Even though Snohomish barely fell short of another double-digit eruption, it produced more than enough offense to earn a surprisingly decisive victory.
Snohomish banged out 14 hits, including solo home runs by Ethan Hargrave and Bryce Meinhold, and routed Lake Stevens 9-1 in the first game of a highly anticipated Western Conference North Division series at Earl Torgeson Field.
In a collision of teams ranked in the top 10 in the Class 4A state coaches’ poll, No. 5 Snohomish scored three runs in the third inning and got a complete-game pitching effort from junior Derek Jones. Every starter had at least one hit and four players had at least two for Snohomish (12-1 in division, 15-2 overall), which won its 12th straight game.
Snohomish coach Kim Hammons said he feels blessed to have such a potent, versatile batting lineup. It’s somewhat of a shock considering the team has four sophomore starters.
“To my surprise, we have hit the ball extremely well all year,” Hammons said. “And it hasn’t just been the top three or four hitters. It has been one through nine.” Against No. 9 Lake Stevens (10-3, 13-4), Snohomish’s hitting heroes included Meinhold (3-for-4, a homer, two runs batted in), Travis Cuykendall (2-for-4, one RBI), Nick Hammons (2-for-3, one double), Braden Allen (two RBI) and Tom Chandler (2-for-3, one RBI).
Hargrave’s leadoff homer to left field ignited a three-run second inning. Snohomish increased its lead to 9-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning, and Lake Stevens didn’t score until its final at-bat.
“They swung it against both of our pitchers pretty well,” Lake Stevens coach Rodger Anderson said.
Both teams had already clinched a berth in the 4A District 1 tournament. In the fight for seeding, Snohomish increased its lead over Lake Stevens to two games with three to go. Lake Stevens plays host to the Panthers on Friday.
Matt Blacken had two singles for Lake Stevens, which hopes to bounce back and prevent Snohomish from snaring the No. 1 seed.
Said Anderson, “I told the kids after the game, ‘Hey, you gotta keep your heads up and walk off the field and tip your hat to Snohomish today.’ They played well.” “It’s just one game,” coach Hammons said. “I think that Lake Stevens is a very experienced, veteran ball club and I just expect them to bounce back and have just a dogfight on Friday.” Jones (4-1) pitched his third complete game of the season. The left-hander relied on fastballs and changeups to limit Lake Stevens to five hits. He struck out four, walked four and escaped jams in the first and fifth innings.
Supported by a defense that didn’t commit an error, Jones allowed just three singles and no runs through six innings.
“Derek Jones deserves a lot of credit for silencing their bats,” said Hammons. “He is an outstanding pitcher.” Meinhold made two fantastic catches in left field. His diving catch of Alex Bruun’s line drive near the foul line ended the top of the first inning. It saved at least one run and stranded two Lake Stevens runners.
Snohomish first baseman Nick Hammons dug out a low throw from Allen, the third baseman, to end the game.
The Panthers hope to continue their hot streak in the series finale.
“I know (Lake Stevens wants) to come out on top, and we want to do the same,” Jones said. “We just need to do it again on Friday.”
At Snohomish H.S.
Lake Stevens0000001-151
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Hawkesworth, Bruun (5) and Gilbertson. Jones and Chandler. WP-Jones (4-1). LP-Hawkesworth (5-1). 2B-White (LS), Mullins (S), Hammons (S). HR-Hargrave (S), Meinhold (S). Records-Lake Stevens 10-3 in division, 13-4 overall. Snohomish 12-1, 15-2.
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